Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

For non-geriatrics, stay away from all the unionized airlines.

I don't know about KLM, but Singapore, Air Malaysia, and ANA are up there. Lufthansa is staffed by sturdy Teutonic women if you are into that sort of thing...

I far prefer BA or Lufthansa to any of the US airlines I have flown internationally so far. Realllly hoping that some time when I fly to the UK for work (perhaps once a year from now on) I can get business class. My boss told me I have to try it once, and it definitely looks nice. But even though we have liberal price guidelines, the last time I flew it was too expensive.

 

[GBassNorth]

The driving flying safety comparison is far from clean (as I was trying to show with the caveats). There is also the severity aspect. Most flight accidents result in a high proportion of deaths compared to traffic accidents.

But it is better than working without data. ​

Likewise - I look at time and cost to make the fly/drive decision for regional travel. Any longer distance and I fly.

My rule of thumb for personal trips - if the drive time will exceed 24 hours of actual driving, I fly.

On business trips - if the drive time exceeds 8 hours behind the wheel, I fly. If I'm flying for more than 4 hours, I'm in first or business class. If I'm flying for more than 12 hours, I expect a personal limo to and from the airport and a masseuse on the first nights stay.

 

[Goatrope]

Emirates...Singapore....KLM....in that order..

I would humbly insert Korean Airlines ahead of KLM, but otherwise agree.

ANA not too shabby either.

But I was a Delta Diamond the last couple years, so my Asia routes were mainly Delta and/or one of their partners. Sleeper/ flatbed seats rock on those long hops.

 

[Kriegs]

Still looking for that old picture of me from the 90's... in the meantime, enjoy this Fullerton Family Foto of FSO's!
View attachment 3449639

(If this triggers you and makes you rage quit TB and sell of your Thunderbirds, I call dibs on them, since I was the catalyst/ herald of doom!!! )

 

[GBassNorth]

For non-geriatrics, stay away from all the unionized airlines.

I don't know about KLM, but Singapore, Air Malaysia, and ANA are up there. Lufthansa is staffed by sturdy Teutonic women if you are into that sort of thing...

As a frequent flyer that on an annual basis exceeded Deltas diamond mileage requirement I'd say if you're flying to Asia fly Singapore air, to Europe fly KLM, within Europe fly Lufthansa, to Northern Africa or the Middle East fly Emirates, within the USA and to Latin America fly Delta, to Canada fly Canadian air, and to Alaska fly that Charles Manson airline.

 

[PillO]

I far prefer BA or Lufthansa to any of the US airlines I have flown internationally so far. Realllly hoping that some time when I fly to the UK for work (perhaps once a year from now on) I can get business class. My boss told me I have to try it once, and it definitely looks nice. But even though we have liberal price guidelines, the last time I flew it was too expensive.

My rule of thumb for personal trips - if the drive time will exceed 24 hours of actual driving, I fly.

On business trips - if the drive time exceeds 8 hours behind the wheel, I fly. If I'm flying for more than 4 hours, I'm in first or business class. If I'm flying for more than 12 hours, I expect a personal limo to and from the airport and a masseuse on the first nights stay.

Last time I was on Lufthansa was just so that I could go on a 747 on the upper deck just because those planes are not going to be around much longer; they are all going out of service primarily for fuel economy reasons.

My contract stipulates that any flight with total flying time of 3 hours or more means business/first class. A town car to/from the airport, or if I drive to the airport, I also get the car detailed. Driving for work doesn't really happen

 

[PillO]

As a frequent flyer that on an annual basis exceeded Deltas diamond mileage requirement I'd say if you're flying to Asia fly Singapore air, to Europe fly KLM, within Europe fly Lufthansa, to Northern Africa or the Middle East fly Emirates, within the USA and to Latin America fly Delta, to Canada fly Canadian air, and to Alaska fly that Charles Mansion airline.

Air Canada has surprisingly good service (although the flight attendants are far from eye-candy). Good enough that one of my consultants in the US, to get to Asia would connect through Toronto to get the 787 to Haneda. For flying into Tokyo, Haneda is the airport to go to. In Tokyo bay, it is about 15 minutes by taxi to Shinegawa and is nowhere near as busy as Narita.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

As a frequent flyer that on an annual basis exceeded Deltas diamond mileage requirement I'd say if you're flying to Asia fly Singapore air, to Europe fly KLM, within Europe fly Lufthansa, to Northern Africa or the Middle East fly Emirates, within the USA and to Latin America fly Delta, to Canada fly Canadian air, and to Alaska fly that Charles Manson airline.

Spot on! Within Europe, Air France has better food than Lufthansa I found..

 

[GBassNorth]

Spot on! Within Europe, Air France has better food than Lufthansa I found..

Better food but completely unreliable schedules. Three times I tried AF for EU travel, the last two times they went on strike and nearly cost me millions of dollars in project delays. When globe trotting from Region to region around the world in back to back meetings trying to keep billion dollar projects on a critical path the last thing I needed was unanticipated delays. I put AF on a no fly list for my department when on business critical travel. But yes, the food was good.

 

[JIO]

Wammy on a 'P'-interesting.

Jennifer rules! (and her Ugg platforms are awesome!)

 

[MCF]

Thanks Kat, and I get that. I just need to slow it down a notch, starting to drop the ball here and there- it's no good, I hate screwing things like this up.
Lol, the wife's noticed we're starting to run low on dishes...

I get that way too. I have to keep reminding myself to just chill. I pretty much work 12 hours a day. Then do stupid things or forget things when I get home. I can’t imagine how you all who also play out do it. I’m so looking forward to retirement. Go fishing, find people to play music with and enjoy baseball.

 

[Count Bassie]

I get that way too. I have to keep reminding myself to just chill. I pretty much work 12 hours a day. Then do stupid things or forget things when I get home. I can’t imagine how you all who also play out do it. I’m so looking forward to retirement. Go fishing, find people to play music with and enjoy baseball.

For me it's the shooting-gallery days, from work to other work/relationship/work on house projects/family issues... and then tunes to have for band practice/assorted gigs.
Some days there's no place to sit. Things change, but damn... lol.

But I've still got my 370! And my 'Bird!

 

[Count Bassie]

Came across this video late last night and cannot stop watching/listening. Good chill tunes for a drive into work, or pretty much whatever IMO. And the bass player is of course awesome.

She is a beauty. And she can play.

 

[MCF]

Brain gets full and then odd things happen.

And that reminds me of another one of my favorites

 

[Goatrope]

I get that way too. I have to keep reminding myself to just chill. I pretty much work 12 hours a day. Then do stupid things or forget things when I get home. I can’t imagine how you all who also play out do it. I’m so looking forward to retirement. Go fishing, find people to play music with and enjoy baseball.

Madness, that’s what it is. Soul-sucking.

The past 4 years I was flying home from work Friday, playing two or three nights on the weekend, then flying off on Monday. Very nerve wracking with all the flight delays. Some close calls, but never missed a gig.

Decided to quit working last September at 57. I highly recommend it. My wife is happier, too. Now my “work schedule” is Fri-Sat-Sun gigs, then four days off.

 

[MCF]

I'm going to end up with one of those JCs.

So many basses. So little time.

 

[MCF]

I didn't know Alaska went into Love Field. Live and learn. Next time I have to go to Dallas, I'll avoid DFW like the plague.

I’ve never been on time the half dozen or so times I’ve been through there. Wind shear. Sat in a plane on the tarmac for six hours once. In July. Thought I was going to die. I hate that airport and American Airlines for that reason.

 

[JIO]

Flying on the Hindenburg is better than American Airlines.

until the landing part...

 

[MCF]

The one, and only cool thing about when i worked at Delta were the travel benefits.
If first class wasn't available, i didn't get on the plane. Spoiled Bee-atch i was.

My daughter recently started with an airline. As her parents, we get amazing flight benefits. Now all we need is time to use them.

 

[JIO]

I prefer to drive. If I needed to go someplace and the only way to get there was to fly, I don't need to go there.

I avoid flying like the plague - pampered comfort for the 1%, cattle-call for the proletarians. (don't mention brats kicking the back of my seat and the fully reclined passengers head in my lap)